Fat

Allmost all specimens in captivity are too fat. An exanthematicus with a diet of mice, chickens, rodents or canned dog-foods will get fat really quickly and will not live very long due to all the problems that may occur. Most of the monitors get problems with the liver within a year or two that can create other problems like pancreatitis (=inflammation of the pancreas) or problems with the kidneys. Unfortunately in many cases like that you are allways too late and the animal will die. To prevent problems like this it is important to keep you monitor entirely or as much as possible on insects or small portions. Ofcource you can give your monitor something else once in a while but just take care that he doesn't get too much. Below a photograph of a monitor which has died by the direct consequences of FAT ! The autopsy report can be found on the website.